South India is a great destination for bird watchers. There are many bird sanctuaries in South India.
Most of them are in the periphery of wildlife sanctuaries and national Parks. Some of the popular Bird sanctuaries are here.
Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary
Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary is one of the popular National Parks in Kerala, South India. It is located on the northern bank of River Periyar. The famous ornithologist Dr. Salim Ali designed this sanctuary. It is home for birds like Indian Roller, Cukoo, Common Snipe, Crow Pheasant, Jungle Nightjar, Kite, Grey Drongo, Malabar Trogon etc.
Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary
Located on the banks of Vembanad Lake in Kerala, Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary is spread across 14 acres. The village of Kumarakom is a cluster of little islands on the Vembanad Lake, and this small water world is part of the Kuttanad region. It is home for local birds like the waterfowl, cuckoo, owl, egret, heron and the water duck, and migratory birds like the siberian stork, Parrots, teal, larks, flycatchers, wood beetle, egret, darter, heron and teal.
Vedathangal Bird Sanctuary
Vedathangal Bird Sanctuary is the oldest Bird Sanctuary in India, located in Tamil Nadu, another southern state of India. This sanctuary can be visited on the way to Mamalapuram, which is just 53 kms away and 85 kms from Chennai. Every year, a large number of migratory birds like Grey Heron, Cormorant, Egrets, Darter, Open-billed Stork, Spoonbill, White Ibis, Grebes, Night Herons and Grey Pelican visit this Sanctuary. It is home for other birds like Cormorants, Darters, Herons, egrets, Open billed Storck, White Ibis, little Grebe, Indian Moorhen, Black Winged Stilts etc.
Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary
Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary, located in the southern Indian state of Karnataka, is another important tourist destination. The sanctuary is now a paradise for wildlife enthusiasts, nature lovers and bird watchers. It is a small sanctuary, comprising six islets on the banks of the Kaveri River, and is very close of the historic town Srirangapatana. Birds like Painted Stork, Asian Openbill Stork, Common Spoonbill, Woolly-necked Stork, Black-headed Ibis, White Ibis, Lesser Whistling Duck, Indian Shag, Stork-billed Kingfisher and other common birds like egrets, cormorants, Oriental Darter, and herons are here.
Kunthakulam Bird Sanctuary
Kunthakulam Bird Sanctuary is located 33kms south of Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu, another southern state of India. Kunthakulam is a small and natural scenic village, which is covered with natural forests and ponds. Many birds migrate here during January to April from countries like Pakistan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, USA, and Australia.
Kawal Sanctuary
Located 50-kms from Mancherial in Andhra Pradesh, another southern State of India, Kawal Sanctuary is home for birds like Peacocks, Patridges, Quails, Vultures, Eagles, Kites, Owls, Mynas, Pigeons, Tree – pies, Kingfishers. Also animals like Sloth Bear, Panther, Tiger etc are here.
Kolleru Bird Sanctuary
Situated in Andhra Pradesh in Godavari District, 60 kms from Vijayawada, this picturesque bird sanctuary of India is a great tourist attraction. The prime attraction of birds are Painted storks, open bill storks, Grey Herons, cormorants, white Ibises, glossy Ibises, egrets, Reef Herons, Ducks, Coots, Shovellers, Terns, Jacanas, Moorhens etc.
Manjira Bird Sanctuary
Located near Sangareddy in Medak District, Andhra Pradesh (50-km From Hyderabad), the Manjira Bird Sanctuary is a haven to a variety of migratory as well as domestic feathered species. The birds include Painted Storks, Herons, Coots, Teals, Cormorants, Pochards, Black and White Ibises, Spoon Bills, Open Billed Storks etc.
By: Lakshmi Menon
Posts Tagged ‘Wildlife Enthusiasts’
Popular Bird Sanctuaries of South India
November 18th, 2009India Tour – Visit Special Tiger Tour in India
October 11th, 2009
The topographical diversity of the India makes it a comfortable abode for numerous species of birds and animals. The country is brimming with around 80 National Parks and 441 Sanctuaries preserving the shelters of all these species.The furious of them all, Tiger with a regal countenance arouses a sense of fear and excitement in all kinds of travellers. High on adventure dose, a tiger tour in India avails numerous opportunities to sight this creature of the wilds. Instead of watching them at zoo, an adventure or nature lover would surely love to watch them in their natural habitat free and wild for which opting for a tiger safari in India is ideal choice.
The country is blessed with numerous tiger reserves sheltering the now diminishing population of Tigers. Under Project Tiger a preservation plan was implemented in order to maintain and even raise the population of tigers in Indian jungles. India jungle tour excites wildlife lovers the most and tiger safari will be the most adventurous exercise.
Amongst those having the widest population of tigers includes Corbett National Park. Situated at the foothills of Himalayas at the hill station of Ram Nagar, Corbett National Park mainly aims at protecting and flourishing tigers especially the endangered Bengal Tiger. With its hills and grasslands, water bodies and numerous animal species the park is heaven for adventure seekers and wildlife enthusiasts and thus should not be missed on one’s tiger tour itinerary in India. The park contains 488 species of plants and a wide range of fauna therefore is a fine eco tourism destination preferred by many opting for India jungle tour.
A Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh state of India, Kanha National Park is home to Royal Bengal Tiger, leopards, Barasingha and many other species of wild animals. The jungle of Bandhavgarh is a lowland forest covered densely with sal and other mixed forest trees. Tigers are found in aplenty here around 131 were seen in 2006 and thus the park provide ample opportunity for tiger sighting tour in India. Other mammals found in the park include ruddy mongoose, Small Indian civet, Bengal fox, golden jackal, Indian pangolin and more.
Bandhavgarh National Park is one of the most popular national parks in India. The park is well known round the world for its large biodiversity and the high density of tiger population. The park is known for housing the highest population of tiger in India. Bandhavgarh also homes the highest density of Bengal tigers in the world. Many of its tigers have made it to the cover pages of National Geographic magazine and thus attract wildlife photography lovers from all over the world.
By: Gets Anil Chand